Leslie Spit - Sat Feb 26

[dbellilo]

Good folks,
Spent noon to 6 today at the L.S. and was fortunate enough to see these sights:

5 hairy woodpeckers together in the same two evergreens! A couple of them were HUGE and making quite a racket, hammering away, flying between the tree and the nearby sumac...
northern saw whet owl, sleeping peacefully in nextdoor evergreen tree
the two immature eider ducks everyone's been excited about
nice-sized flock of redpolls
~12 w.w. scoters
all 3 mergansers
and the other usual waterfowl

Was sad to miss the L.E. owls today!

Anyhow, the Leslie Spit never disappoints, and I've really been enjoying the desolate parts that look like the end of the world...most excited for Springtime there, warblers, etc.

All the best
David B.

[AlvanBuckley]

I also was at the Spit today.

Some of my highlights to add:

1 Tundra Swan
1 American Coot
4 Gadwall
1 American Kestrel
1 Northern Flicker
1 Northern Shrike
1 Snow Bunting

and 1 Field Mouse. Their ears are huge!!!

[dbellilo]

Thanks for sharing! Forgot to mention that I saw both shrikes today, too. And the coot. I seriously considered stealing those eider ducks, so as to keep them in my bathtub and raise them. Possibly my only shot at seeing a full-grown eider? Lucky for you, seeing the tundra swan and flicker!

[AlvanBuckley]

There have been adult King Eiders around. Although much rarer!

Probably safer to just fly to Newfoundland in the winter for the King Eider! Or go up to Ellesmere Island in the Summer! I'll come with you! :p

[dbellilo]

Let's go! Ha! You'll pay!

[mr.sharp-photo]

sounds like you guys had a good day at the Spit.
today, it was incredibly quiet. few birders, few birds.
over 4.5 hours, i saw:

NSWO
LEO
the eiders
various water foul (i didn't see the hooded merganser that apparently was there)
kestrel
downy woodpecker
i saw only 2 chickadees. that shows how quiet it was!

[AlvanBuckley]

Over the past month and a half there's been a female Hooded Merganser hanging out at the bridge. I've always seen it on the right side when walking towards the Lighthouse. I did see a male Hooded there a few weeks ago but haven't seen it since.